The European Union is preparing a sixth package of sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine , to be launched this week, which will also include a gradual stop to Russian oil . At the same time, after the stop for Poland and Bulgaria, the president of the Duma Vladimir Putin asked to turn off the taps to all "hostile countries".
In Italy, flows from Russia are currently regular, despite the fact that payment in rubles is excluded, but the government is working to diversify the sources of supply . The next payments to Moscow are scheduled for mid-May. Alarm from Berlin: "With the energy embargo, Germany will go into recession". Hungary , on the other hand, gives in to Putin's diktat and to avoid ending up like Poland and Bulgaria announces that it will pay for gas in rubles, despite Von der Leyen having specified that it would be a violation of European sanctions.
Meanwhile, fighting continues in the east of Ukraine and also in Mariupol . The Russians let it be known that from May 1st the port of the martyr city will be back in operation, where the Ukrainian marines remain barricaded with the fighters of the Azov battalion and hundreds of civilians. Moscow also announces that the ruble will be used in Kherson as of May 1st.
Announcements that clash with Washington's claims that Russian progress in the Donbass is "slow" and Mariupol "has not been conquered" . In the late afternoon, two strong explosions were heard in Kiev: Russian missiles hit the capital , near the British embassy , during the visit of the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres . "A raid - said Zelensky - to humiliate the United Nations ".
The conflict, meanwhile, reports a senior official of the Biden administration, will last "months or years" . Joe Biden himself has asked the US Congress for 33 billion to help Kiev with other weapons. " Putin 's project is destined to fail - he said -, but we are not attacking Russia". A historic turning point for Germany, which decided to send heavy weapons to Kiev.
Also in Italy there is the green light for the second tranche of arms to Ukraine . The decree - signed by the Minister of Defense, Lorenzo Guerini , together with Luigi Di Maio (Foreign) and Daniele Franco (Economy) - was published in the Official Gazette. The list is classified, but Guerini reported this to Copasir in a hearing that lasted about two hours. However, the minister explained, it is war material of the same nature as that already sent with the first decree: Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, Milan anti-tank missiles, 120 mm mortars, heavy and light machine guns, bulletproof vests, helmets, k rations, bullets and ammunition in large quantities.
( HERE all the news about the war)
( HERE all the videos)
The day by the hour:
Missiles over Kiev near the GB embassy
Russian missiles over central Kiev exploded near the British embassy.
***
Kiev, residential building hit: "There are victims"
One of the targets hit by the Russian raids in the center of Kiev is a residential area and there are "casualties". This was announced by a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian emergency services. Two bombs would have hit "a sensitive target" and a residential building next door, where there were people. The number of victims has not yet been clarified, and whether they are dead or injured.
***
Missiles on Kiev hit the city center: two ambulances, police and military personnel
Russian missiles hit an area close to the center of Kiev. Police, military and at least two ambulances rushed to the scene.
***
Missiles over Kiev during Guterres' visit
Russian raids hit Kiev during the visit of UN Secretary General Guterres. This was announced by the mayor of the Ukrainian capital Vitali Klitschko.
***
Two strong explosions in Kiev
Two loud explosions were heard in Kiev where a column of smoke rose, while the press conference of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is underway.
***
Usa: "The war will last months or years"
"The conflict in Ukraine can last months or even longer." This was reported by a senior official of the Biden administration, stressing that the war will continue to test the unity of the United States and allies and "our common determination to provide Ukraine with what it needs to win".
***
Usa: "The Russians begin to leave Mariupol"
The United States has seen some Russian troops "leave the city of Mariupol despite not having conquered it yet". A US defense official said this in a press briefing. According to the Pentagon's assessment, Moscow soldiers from the south are heading to the northwest, towards Zaporizhzhia.
***
Usa: "Slow progress from the Russians in the Donbass"
Russian forces are making "slow and erratic" progress in the Donbass region, partly due to Ukrainian resistance, partly due to continuing logistical problems. This was reported by American Defense sources in a press briefing.
"There is still a lot to and fro in the region in terms of territory gained or lost on both sides," said an official who wished to remain anonymous. Currently, Russia has 92 battalions in Ukraine, up from 85 last week and has launched over 1,900 missiles since the invasion began in February.
***
Secrecy constraint on Italian weapons in Kiev
In today's hearing of Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini at Copasir, "the contents of the second inter-ministerial decree authorizing the transfer of military vehicles, materials and equipment to the governmental authorities of Ukraine, on which the Committee agreed with the Government, were shared in the affixing of the secrecy constraint, and the results of the meeting held at the American base in Ramstein in Germany last April 26 with the participation of the allied countries in supporting the government in Kiev ". This was announced by Copasir president Adolfo Urso.
***
Hungary: "We will pay gas in rubles"
"Hungary has no doubts about its obligation to pay for Russian gas in a way that guarantees its regular supply." This was said today in Zagreb, where the Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó is on an official visit, confirming Budapest's intention to pay Russian suppliers for gas in rubles. "Energy supply is a matter of national security and the government has a duty to ensure security for citizens," Szijjártó said in a joint press conference with fellow Croatian Gordan Grlic-Radman.
***
From the US another 30 billion in aid to Kiev
Joe Biden will ask Congress to authorize $ 33 billion, including $ 20 billion for military aid, to support Ukraine in the war against Russia. "As long as the assaults and atrocities continue, we will continue to help Ukraine defend itself from Russian aggression," explained the US president.
***
One British citizen killed, another missing
A British citizen was killed in Ukraine and another is reported missing. This was stated by a spokesman for the Foreign Office. According to Sky News, these are two volunteers who have joined the Ukrainian forces to fight against the Russians, but there is no official confirmation on the matter.
***
Biden will ask Congress for $ 33 billion for Kiev
Joe Biden will ask Congress to authorize $ 33 billion, including $ 20 billion for military aid, to support Ukraine in the war against Russia. This was reported by a senior US administration executive.
***
In Chernobyl the situation is "not of grave danger"
International Atomic Energy Agency (Aiea) head Rafael Grossi said today that although there has been "a small increase" in radiation levels in Chernobyl, we are still "significantly below the authorized levels for workers in Chernobyl. an environment with this type of radiation ". This was reported by CNN, specifying that IAEA experts have visited the Chernobyl site in recent days to measure radiation levels. The closed nuclear power plant returned to Ukrainian hands after being taken over by the Russian military earlier this month. "The situation cannot be judged as a serious danger to the environment or to people at the time we were taking these measurements," added Grossi.
***
Donetsk separatists: "Mariupol port operational since March"
The authorities of the self-proclaimed pro-Russian separatist republic of Donetsk plan to bring the port of Mariupol back into operation in May, thus giving a new signal of Moscow's control over the strategic city on the Sea of Azov.
"We are preparing the first delivery from the port of Mariupol in May," said the leader of the Donetsk separatists, Denis Pushilin, quoted by Interfax, explaining that at the moment "an inventory and cleanup phase is underway".
***
Azov Battalion: "The steel mill field hospital bombed"
"The military field hospital located in the Azovstal steel plant has been bombed: there are deaths and new injuries." The soldiers of the Azov battalion reported on Telegram - cited by Ukrinform -, who also posted a video of a few seconds in which first aid is seen to the soldiers who remained under the rubble. "The operating room is destroyed. They continue to bomb - the soldiers still write - but the Geneva Convention guarantees the protection of hospital medical institutions and the necessary assistance should be provided to the wounded without discrimination of any kind ".
***
Military chief of Kiev: "22 thousand mines still in the region"
"Life is slowly returning to normal, but now the most serious problem is the mines. In the Kiev region there are still 22 thousand explosives left by the Russians. It is a huge job." This was stated by General Oleksandr Pavliuk, head of the regional military administration of Kiev, accompanying the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, on a visit to Borodyanka, Bucha and Irpin, the towns in the northwest of the Ukrainian capital most devastated by the invaders last year. March.
***
Kremlin: "Sending weapons to Kiev is a threat to Europe"
Sending weapons to Ukraine and other countries constitutes "a threat to the security of Europe". This was stated by the spokesman of the Kremlin Dmitri Peskov, quoted by the TASS.
***
Azov: "On Mariupol 50 raids and a colossal number of phosphorus bombs"
"This night was a night with a colossal number of phosphorus bombs. Fifty air strikes, rockets, artillery shells, and everything a barbarian can use against humanity." This was stated by the deputy commander of the Azov regiment Svyatoslav Palamar in a video broadcast on the Telegram channel of Ukraina24.
***
Born: "We will welcome Sweden and Finland with open arms"
"If Sweden and Finland decide to join NATO they will be welcomed with open arms". This was stated ( VIDEO ) by NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg in a press conference with the president of the Eurocamera Roberta Metsola. "We have worked with these countries for years, we know that their forces have NATO standards, we have conducted many missions together and I expect the process to be quick after the formalities are completed." "I am sure - he added - that we will find security agreements in the interregnum period until their choice is ratified".
***
Guterres to Irpin: "Civilians pay the highest price of war"
"Civilians pay the highest price of war. This must be remembered in every part of the world." UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said this as he spoke in front of two residential buildings in Irpin destroyed by Russian bombing. Guterres also visited Bucha, another place where, according to Kiev, massacres of civilians were carried out ( VIDEO ) by the Russians.
***
Zelensky: "Moscow uses gas and trade relations as a weapon"
Russia uses not only gas but trade relations more generally as a weapon. This was underlined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his usual nightly message, reports the BBC. In particular, with reference to the decision to cut the gas supply to Poland and Bulgaria, Zelensky believes that it is clear that "no one in Europe can hope to maintain normal economic cooperation with Russia". "Russia considers not only gas, but every commercial relationship as a weapon" and "sees a united Europe as a target".
***
Four dead in Lugansk, continuous bombing
Four people killed and four injured in the Lugansk region. Local authorities report this, according to Ukrainska Pravda. Ten buildings in Popasna and 13 in Lysychansk were also affected: "The latter - says the head of the military district, Serhii Haidai - is a large city where the fires caused by the bombings have gone on all night and where there are difficulties in rescuing" .
***
Moscow: "Kherson will introduce the ruble from May 1"
The city of Kherson in southern Ukraine, which Russia claims to have taken under its control, will switch to using the ruble, the Russian currency, from May 1st. This was reported by the Russian state agency Ria Novosti cited by the BBC. The vice president of the military and civil administration of the region, Kirill Stremousov, told Ria Novosti that the switch will take a period of 4 months, during which both the Ukrainian ruble and the Ukrainian hryvnia will be in circulation. After this period the region will make a complete switch to using the Russian currency, he added.
(Unioneonline)